So How Far Would You Go?

[striperswiper75]

Take me with you to this spot....if we get there first we can set up strategically and keep others from fishing....haha
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

[DZ]

I've had rocks thrown at me at night while on a perch at Old Harbor on Block. Also had a shotgun shot over my head in the same place during broad daylight. Had the lug nuts removed from the vehicle I was fishing from one night at Black Rock. Back in the old days were not for the faint of heart.
DZ

[Eric Roach]

I feel for you. These situations take the enjoyment out of fishing. Jealousy, impatience, paranoia, thoughts of retaliation, etc.

Been there. I've chilled some but I can still get a little wrapped up in this stuff. In particular, trespassing on posted property gets harder to justify every year. Hard on the conscience.

Just let it go. What these guys do is out of your control. You'll feel better overall if you stop coveting it so much. Use this as an opportunity to find a new place to fish or return to an old spot and explore it further.

Personally, I'd write the spot off for a period of time, or only fish it well after midnight.

[bloocrab]

Spiteful hypocrisy will gain you nothing positive... in no way,form or shape. I first heard these words from my elementary school principal many, many moons ago......."2 wrongs don't make a right"

It's happened to all of us. There's really nothing you can do about it, ...nothing morally right that is.
I do understand your frustration though. A lot of planning can go into any one given night. Sometimes I head out just because I can. Other nights I head out because I have a serious plan. Those nights hurt the most when ruined by situations like this. Someone who doesn't take this as seriously as yourself may not understand your aggravation. Heading out late at night (a work-night no-less), drive an hour, walk 45 minutes.......shadows on your perch....you were so set on fishing that spot, so much time put into finding it, getting there....it's not only physical it's mental at that point.
You just have to step back...outside of yourself....like into a "Raven" state ....take a deep breath.......put those rocks down, hang up your phone.....fish from a distance, but enough to see what they're doing...(meaning if they're catching, or even know what they're doing) evaluate what type of fishermen they are. Learn from what you see. If you pass them on the trail or back at the parking area....talk of seals, sharks and dogfish and how abundant they have become in that spot, how much things have changed...but that you like the serenity and view of the skyline from there. You have made many personal memories at this spot , fishing and non-fishing related. You and your partner often spend nights under the moon-lit sky in your birthday suits due to its seclusion. Then ask them their names....shake their hands, firmly...when they try to pull away, hold on and sexily smile at them.

Then tell them....."Hope to see you guys again"

[piemma]

I my younger days I would throw guys off "my rock" and get really pissed about it. Like a crazy man really.

Now, I just move. In the surf I have enough spots where I can hide. In my boat I have 1/2 dozen go to spots that you'd never think would hold a fish.

Just have a good backup plan.

[chuckg]

Lighten up, take a Valium, lots of water out there…

[snake slinger]

Dont fall in love with one spot

[Tagger]

I'm sure the two guys, have told other guys of your catch .. It's over, move on .. I was pushed out and landed on another spot that was better , I fished it for years . It's all part of the game ..

[ProfessorM]

Being crowded out of spots at the canal over the years is very common and has caused me to move and I have found even better spots and when those get crowded I will go back to my original spots. I see it one time or another everywhere I have fished boat and shore. If those guys keep seeing you go there they will never stop coming. Give it a rest for a year or 2 and who knows you may have it back to yourself someday. I would give up fishing if I had to think of violence to solve any fishing issue. I do it for fun not stress.

[Goose]

It wasn't that long ago I was a bit of a hot head, claiming spots. I felt entitled because in many cases I did the leg work, spent lots of money & countless hours but like all fisherman you can only keep a good thing to yourself for so long. Try not to become emotionally driven about fishing or you'll let it get the best of you. Your situation is for pleasure but add money to the pleasure and you'll bring out the worst in the person. Like professor and others have stated, fishing and peace go hand in hand. You dont have to get old before you realize it

[Bronko]

We'll said Goose.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

[N.ShoreFisher]

I was fishing a pond on a golf course when I was about 10, maybe a mile from my house which I biked to with my little green tackle box and rod(still have that rod). Anyway, I decided that I wanted to try a different spot on the other side which I had never been to, was completely overgrown and full of thorns and red ants on the cat tails. As I never minded mud(used to be a little bit of a swamp rat when I was a kid), I trudged through all this crap to find just this tiny little opening. I knew it was special, it was secluded and the water dropped off right from the bank. There was even a fallen tree that I figured would have to have turtles and frogs and fish(I really didn't care what I caught back then). Anyway, I got out there and started to open my tackle box to see which of my kmart bucktails and borrowed Gold's Fish lures and rubber worms might work when I heard this old guy say "hey, what are you doing here?" Scared the crap out of me. I thought I was gonna be in trouble, but instead he came over with his gear, asked if he could see what I was using, then showed me a big white bucket with a bunch of bait fish in it. He was nice enough to let me stay, as long as I didn't tell anyone about "his" spot. I ended up catching a few "monster" sunfish, which made me happy. Never told anyone about the spot, not because I didn't want to, but because he was nice to me, showed an interest in a "fellow angler" and didn't run me off. I still think about that sometimes when guys encroach on me and "my" spots

[Uncle Rob]

Please don't fish the state beach at B.I. after dark during season. The locals use the surf casters as open game!

[JohnR]

Submerge sets of glow in the dark eyes under the water and some spookey noise thing behind 'em

[baldwin]

I had some clown move up in the way of my backcast as I was flyfishing on a jetty. I kept moving my backcast closer and closer to him, wondering how close I'd get before he got a clue and moved. I swear that my last cast came about 3 inches from his ear before he finally got the hint. If I had actually hooked him, I would have had to do the right thing and release him into the drink.

[JohnR]

Originally Posted by baldwin

I had some clown move up in the way of my backcast as I was flyfishing on a jetty. I kept moving my backcast closer and closer to him, wondering how close I'd get before he got a clue and moved. I swear that my last cast came about 3 inches from his ear before he finally got the hint. If I had actually hooked him, I would have had to do the right thing and release him into the drink.

One guy did that to Billy B one day on Pogue and got 2 of three trebles in his chin.

[Poncho]

How do you have ten thousand dollars worth of gear strapped to you in one night I would really love to know what you have that's worth 10 k and does it make you catch more fish?

Originally Posted by Rockport24

Numbskull hit it on the head - if this spot is so secret, why were these guys even there? Sounds like you need to try harder and find more secluded spots. or fish the zero dark thirty tides.

I used to fish a few spots where the white bucket brigade would set up shop regularly, but I used to go there at night (say past midnight) and there was nary a soul. Plum Island in MA is the exception as it has yahoos at all hours, but if you go to one side of the island were you have to walk your butt off, you won't find anyone except for maybe another guy with $10K worth of gear just like you!

Of course you could avoid all of this and just get a boat or kayak (which is what I did, in fact kayak fishing on the north shore of MA was started by a group of guys that were frustrated by this very thing)

Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

[onecastmike2003]

There are some people you just don't fickle with because they will fickle with you.

[Swimmer]

Originally Posted by JohnR

One guy did that to Billy B one day on Pogue and got 2 of three trebles in his chin.

I watched that happen that morning John. I told those two fellas from Jersey that he is one person you don't want to stand behind while he is fighting a fish. Saw the albie in the trough, watched the arc of the hook as it came out of the fishes mouth and flew backwards, up and over, Bill's head, with those trebles impaling the guys chin. Victim wanted to shed tear in pain but didn't. Then he asked us to take the hook out. We refused, sent him to the e.r., and he was back in under an hour. THose three guys came to the derby for years with each other. I haven't noticed them the last few years though. He didn't heed my advice, but he took the hook like a man.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

[JohnR]

Originally Posted by Swimmer

I watched that happen that morning John. I told those two fellas from Jersey that he is one person you don't want to stand behind while he is fighting a fish. Saw the albie in the trough, watched the arc of the hook as it came out of the fishes mouth and flew backwards, up and over, Bill's head, with those trebles impaling the guys chin. Victim wanted to shed tear in pain but didn't. Then he asked us to take the hook out. We refused, sent him to the e.r., and he was back in under an hour. THose three guys came to the derby for years with each other. I haven't noticed them the last few years though. He didn't heed my advice, but he took the hook like a man.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

I remember, IIRC Julie was to Billy's right, Billy to my right. The albie came unglued and Billy was getting ready to cast back out, with that guy's chin on his hook. We had to yell to stop Billy from ripping it off - he did not even know.

Guy went to MVH with an unexpected facial piercing that day.

Those were fun times on MV!

[wdmso]

I find it Odd that many many fisherman like to give the off the Idea that all they know they learned by themselves from spots to gear you name it . I am sure some of this knowledge is self taught but not as much as some peoples ego's would have you believe. Take the Canal the 1st 1 year I fished that place was a struggle the 2nd year I got smart I watched took mental notes what lures what times tides yes even pole numbers to match against a map an old timer gave me .

I improved by trial and error and brute force and long hours and observing others better than Me at jigging or pencils now i can hold my own be more efficient with my time and have better results

So I thank anyone whom I spied on to improve my ability's
and those who were willing to say use one of theses you ain't catching #^&#^&#^&#^& with that . Because if your one of theses whom think your an elite fisherman fishing alone in the dark worried about your spots I think your missing the point of fishing and the enjoyment of fishing with others who share your passions

[JLH]

Originally Posted by wdmso

I find it Odd that many many fisherman like to give the off the Idea that all they know they learned by themselves from spots to gear you name it . I am sure some of this knowledge is self taught but not as much as some peoples ego's would have you believe. Take the Canal the 1st 1 year I fished that place was a struggle the 2nd year I got smart I watched took mental notes what lures what times tides yes even pole numbers to match against a map an old timer gave me .

I improved by trial and error and brute force and long hours and observing others better than Me at jigging or pencils now i can hold my own be more efficient with my time and have better results

So I thank anyone whom I spied on to improve my ability's
and those who were willing to say use one of theses you ain't catching #^&#^&#^&#^& with that . Because if your one of theses whom think your an elite fisherman fishing alone in the dark worried about your spots I think your missing the point of fishing and the enjoyment of fishing with others who share your passions

I can appreciate your point but on the flip side you have the enjoyment of figuring out something for yourself that potentially no one else is aware of or on a position to take advantage of. For me that is one of the the most rewarding things about fishing the surf. And when you do figure something like that out it pays to keep it a closely guarded secret.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device